Machine for loading rubber-heel blanks with washers



June 15 1926. V, R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS Filed May 3, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet June 15 1926'.

V. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS 'WITH WASHERS Filed Maya. 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 711d mess:

June 15; 1926. 1,588,593

7 v. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS Filed May 8, 1923 Shecs-Sheet 5 1 Inventors 46; f

June 15 1926.

V. R. LAWSON El AL MACHINE FdR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH W A SHERS a Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 8, 1923 June 15,1926. 1,588,593 v. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUB BER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS 4 W K %4 r 8 9 WMXW/W.

June 15,1926. v 1,588,593 V. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS I. I .95 Fig/4 s E y; s; L, hm ifir 4 5;, j, :3 g 1 June 15 1926.

V. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL'BLANKS WITH WASHERS Filed May 8, 192" 8 ShegtsSheet 7 June 15 v. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING R UBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS "Ffled May 8, 1923 I 'fizvenzoi'a witness: WA. 77

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STAT s PATENT OFFICE,

VIo'roR B. LAWSON, or nos INDALE, Ann 301m J. BATTERMAN, 0F DEDI-IA'M, MASSA! ennsncrrs; SAID BATTERMANYASSIGNOR 1 0 JOHN J. DALY, on NEWTON, MASSA- nnonmn non LOADING RUBBER-HEEL BLANKS' WITH wasnnns.

Application filed May 8,

This invention relates to a machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers.

A rubber heel of the common commercial form has a number of washers embedded in the body thereof, these washers being designed to support the-heads of the nails, screws, or other fastenings by means of which the heel is secured to a shoe'and to distribute the strain exerted by these fastenings over a greater part of the body of the heel than otherwise would be the case.

The usual process of manufacturing rubber heels consists in making an unvulcanized rubber heel stock of suitable composition, working this stock-into sheets of appropriate thickness, cutting out heel-shaped blanks from this stock, and then molding and vulcanizing these blanks to'form finished heels. The embedding of the nail receiving washers in'the heels is, according to the present practice, performed incidentally to or as a part of the molding operation. That is, the washers are placed on posts lo cated in the heel cavities of the molds, and a blank is then placed on these posts and is pressed into the cavity by the upper mold plate, thus forcing the washers into the body of the blank.

heel during the molding and vulcani'zing op erations. The placing of the washers on the studs or posts in the mold cavities thus is a part of the duty of the press operator or molder. According to the present practice the production from a given press is limited by the length of time required for the molder to place washers on the posts in the molds. The mo-lder is handicapped in performing this'partof his duties by the fact that the molds are hot, and also by the fact that the posts are necessarily so located with reference to the other parts of the mold that the mo-lder is hampered in placing the wash ers on the posts.

The present invention deals with the problem presented by these conditions, and it has for its chief object to devise a machine for automatically loading rubber heel blanks with washers. The invent-ion proposes to relieve the molder entirely of the duty of The posts hold these washers in the proper relationship to the body of the:

1923. Serial No. 637,526.

handling washers, each heel blank beingloaded with washers when it comes to the niolder so that it will be'simply necessary for him to place one blank in' each mold cavity, the washerscarried by the blank be.'

ing so spaced that they will register with the washer pins in the molds. Economies thus are effected both 111 the molding operation and also in the placing of the washers in the will be particularly pointed out in the ap pended claims. I

In the drawings Y Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, the heel blank magazine, however, beingomittedi Fig; 2 is aside elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l but including the magazine;

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the'heel blank feed plate and adjacent parts;: Fig; l'is a plan view of a. rubberheel blank showing the washer locations and showing one washer embedded. therein vby the mashine shown;

Fig. 5'is an enlarged on the line 55, Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view through the die'blocks and plunger mechanism of the machine shown in Figs. land 2; *ig. is a horizontal cross sectional plan view showing the driving mechanism for the heel blank feeder; I

Fig.

cross sectional view 8 is' a vertical cross sectional View through a part of the plunger and die mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9-9, Fig. lat; I i

Fig. 10 is anelevation showing a detail of the washer feeding mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view" through :the cross head of the machine;

upper die and adjacent parts with the filler F 12 is a bottom view of the body of the removed, the ends of. the washer and the plates in which they are supshown in horizontal cross seclGlOCKS chutes ported being tion;

13 is a cross section of one of the washer hoppers, the parts contained therein being shown in plan;

1 1, Fig.13;

Fi. 15 is an enlarged View of apart of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a View similar to Fig. 15 but shewim the parts at a subsequent point in multaneously into a heel blank supported on the lower die; a blank feeding mechanism which presents the heel blanks one at a time to the loading mechanism, and washer feeding mechanism which delivers washers to the loading mechanism in position to be forced into the heel blanks,

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the upper die block is indicated at 2, and the lower die at 3. The lower die consists of a plate having a series of apertures 4 therethrough arranged in substantially the positional relationship to each other whichit is desired to have the washers bear to each otherin the heel blank, this die being removably mounted in a table or bed 9. The upper die block comprises a main body or block 5 with a face plate 6 secured to its lower side, these members having holes tl'ierethrough to receive plungers 7 arranged in alineinent with the holes 4 in the lower die plate. These plungcrs also project through holes in a plate 8, Fig. 6, which is held in spaced relationship to the block 5 by means or" four posts 103, F igs. 1 and 12, and the plungers are secured at their upper ends ina plunger head 10. This head is slotted to receive the head 12 of a large screw 13 which is threaded into a cavity formed in the lower side of a cross head 14. The cross head'is mounted to reciprocate in vertical guide bars l515, Fig. 11, which are bolted to the machine frame 16. A crank arm 17, Fig. 1, has a rounded head 18 at its lowerend which is mounted in asiini larly shaped socket formed in the cross head 14;. and the upper end of the crank arm is mounted on a pin 19 which projects eccentrically from disk20 secured to the forward end of the main shaft 21. At its rearis cross sectional view on the line 1,5ee,5es

' chine is in operation the plungers 7 are reciprocated toward and the lower die block 3.

The blank feeding mechanisn presents the rubber 1861 blanks oneata time between dies 2" and 3, and the plungers force the washers flatwise into the body of the blank. This feeding operation is performed by a rotary feed plate 24, best shown in Fig. 3, this plate being provided with a series of heel shaped apertures 25 each adapted to receive a heel blank. The feeder takes the blanks from the bottom of a magazine, in-

dicated in general at 26, Figs. 2 and 3, which is adapted to support a vertical stack of rubber heel blanks, the lowermost blank in the stack resting on the surface of the feeder 24C. The magazine comprises a bracket 27 which is bolted to the side of the bed or table 9 so that it can be adjusted vertically, this bracket having a horizontal portion that overlies a part of the feeder124. Bolted to the horizontal portion of this bracket is an upright V-shaped plate 28 designed to support the rounded ends of the heel blanks, and two vertical pieces 29 and 30 of angular cross section designed to support the opposite sides and breast corners of the blanks,

as clearly shown in Fig. 3. All of these parts are adjustably securedto the bracket 27 so that the dimensions of the magazine can be varied to accommodate a variety of sizes of blanks. The feeder is rotated int-ermittently, and as the apertures 25 come in linewith the stack the lowermost heel blank the-rein drops into one of theapertures, and upon the next forward movement of the feeder, this blank is carried out of the stack and is moved forward over the surface of the table or bed 9.

For the purpose of giving the feeder 2 1 its intermittent movement it is secured on the upper end of a shaft 31, Figs. 2 and 7, which-is sup-ported partly in the table 9 and part y in a spider or plate 32 which. is bolted to said table. A Geneva wheel '33 is-secured fastto the shaft 31 and cooperates with a Geneva driver consistingof a disk 3 1 and a roll 35, Figs. 2 and 7. This driver secured to a gear 36 whichmeshes with a gear37 pinned to the lower end. of a vertica shaft 38. The upper end or this shaft is connected through mitre gears l0, Fig. 2. with the main siaft 21 previouslyreferred to. This driving mechanism thus operates torotate the feed plate 24C step by step, each feeding 1novement carrying the plate through an angle of Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the feeder 24 receives a blank. from the magazine 26 in the positionB It'ncXt adsurface of the heel.

'vances this blank to'the idle position B and upon the next succeeding feeding movement,

it carries this blank to the position B where it is located between the upper and lower dies in readiness to be loaded with was-hers. The next feeding movement of the plate carries this loaded blank over an aperture 42 in the table 9, and the heel drops through this aperture into a suitable receptacle.

The feed plate 24 rotates in a clockwise direction, as it appears in Fig. 3, and the blank receiving apertures 25 are arranged with their rounded ends fore-most so that as the blanks are advanced toward the dies they are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force against the outer edges of the apertures. They are moved forward by the contact of the edge of the aperture with the breast edge of the blank, so that each blank, when finally presented to the loading mechanism, is located in the outer left-hand corner, Fig. 3, of the blank aperture. The position of the blank B in Fig. 3 clearly illustrates this point. The feeder thus not only performs the function of feeding, but also of positioning, or gaging the position of, the blanks for the loading operation.

, In order to still further ensure the correct positioning of the blanks, a plunger is arranged to move partly through the lower die block 8 to press the blank against the upper die block. This plunger comprises a head 43, Figs. 3 and 6, on theupper end of a stem 44 which is guided in the hollow stud 45. A spring 46 tends to force the plunger upwardly and the movement of the plunger so produced is limited by a nut 47 screwed on the lower end of the stem 44. As the feed plate 24 swings the blank into position between the dies, the. drag of the plunger head 43 on the blank assists centrifugal force in moving the blank into the outer left-hand or trailing corner of the aperture 25 in which the blank is located. The plunger also presses the blank against the lower face of the upper die block and prevents any rebounding of the blank when the feed plate stops.v

lVhile the blank is held in this position the ntire series of washers which are to be embedded in it are dropped upon the upper The washer feeding mechanism consists of two sections or feeding mechanisms which are duplicates of each other, as best shown in Fig. 1, and com-prises hoppers 50 and 51 mounted at opposite sides of the machine, and connected through washer delivery tubes or chutes 52 and 53 to the opposite sides of the upper die block 2. It will be seen fro-m an inspect-ion of Figs. 3 and 4 that the heel blank B is designed to have eight washers inserted therein. Consequently, the washer delivering mechanism shown is arrangedv to deliver four washers from each hopper simultaneously to the die block. Inasmuch as the washer feeding mechanisms are duplicates of each other, the mechanism located at the right of themachine only will be described in detail.

Referring to Figs. 1, and 13 to 18 inclusive, it will be seen that the hopper 50 is supported in a stationary position on bracket 54. This hopper is adapted to contain a :mass of washers which are simply dumped into it without regard to arrangement. The hopper is inclinedat an angle of about 45, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that the washers will normally rest in the lower part of the hopper. Mounted closely against the bottom '55 of the hopper is a selector plate 56 having a series of radial slots 57 formed in its edge, these slots being of a width to receive the washers TV. The margin of the selector plate 56 is of about the thickness of a washer, while the central portion thereofis of more substantial dimensions, and this plate is secured fast on the end of an inclined shaft 60.

As the selector plate 56 rotat-es slowly through the tumbled mass of washers, the slots 57 will be more or less completely filled by washers arranged edge to edge, as shown in Fig, 13, the slots being long enough to hold four washers As the slots swing upwardly, the washers drop by gravity-toward the inner ends of the slots, and they finally come to a position, as shown at the rightof Figs/3 and 15, .over apertures 62 which are formed through the bottom plate 55 of the hopper and constitute the mouths of the washer chutes ortubes 52. These openings or months 62, however, are closed at this time by a shutter or plate 63 which sets into the plate..55 flush therewith, and on which the washers are supported at this time. This shutter has a shank 64, and both the shutter and i-ts'shanl: are located in a recess formed in thepl'ate as best shown in Fig. 14. The shutter normally is held in its closed position bymeans of a spring (in.

It will be observed that the slets 57 are arranged in groupsof four, and that they are so soaced that' the innermost washer in all four slots of any group will register with the months 62 simultaneously. When .the parts reach this relationship,'theshutter is drawn backwardly far enough touncover the openings 62, thus causing the washers resting on the shutter to drop into .the chutes 52.

For the purpose of moving the shutter hackwardly to open it-atthe des red points in' the rotation of the selector plate 56, a

cam plate 66 is secured to the shank 64 by means of a screw 67. The selector plate carries a series of-studs or rolls 68, one for eachgroup of slots 57, and these studs or rolls are arranged to engage the inclined face of the cam 66 and force this cam back- V wardly, as bestshown in Fig. 16. The shut- GR Lu I nism ter 63 moves with the cam 66 and consequently is opened by the travel of each roll 68 past the cam. As soon as the roll leaves the cam the spring 65 immediately closes the shutter again.

In order to prevent more than one washer bein discharged into each wash r tube at fume, a guard plate 70 is mounted in the hopp ron posts 7171 in a position parallel to the wall of the hopper and with its lower edgeextendingdown to the selector plate 56. The upper end of the guard 70 is curved inwardly slightly, as indicated at 72, 13 and 15, so that as the washers are carried past this guard by the selector plate, the innermost washer in each slot 57 will pass on the inner side of the guard, while ail'the other washers will be compelled to pass on the outer side thereof. When the shutter is opened only those washers on the inner side of the guard can drop into the mouths of the chutes.

Two kinds of washers are commonly used in rubber heels, namely, a flat washer and a dished or concaved washer. lVhen the latter kind is used, it is important that the washers be presented to the loading mechanism with their concaved sides all facing in one direction; in this instance with their concaved faces up. The selector Jlfille of the mechaabove described is so thin in the neighborhood of the slots 57 that it will only carry a concaved washer in its inverted position, as shown at l Fig. 10, but t will reject or fail to convey a washer with its concaved side uppermost, as indicated at l/V", Fig. 10. All the washers brought around to the shutter 63, therefore, are in their inverted positions, as shown in Fig. 17.

This shutter is slowlydrawn baclrwardly in the manner above described, so that support for each washer is first withdrawn from under the outer edge of the washer W. It will therefore tip downwardly into the chute 52'with its concave side inwardly toward the center of the machine. lit will be understood that the washer is moved forward continuously while the shutter is opening, but that the long slot which forms the mouth of the chute affords ample time for the washer to drop into" it, this construction giving the effect of a dwell in the movement of the selector plate. It should also be noted that there is a slight clearance between the outer edge of the slot 62 and the outer edge of the shutter when the shutter is in its closed position. This is clearly shown in Fio's. and 17, and this arrangement produces the advantage ofpreventing the shutter from closing on awasher which is just toppling into the mouth of the chute and preventing the complete discharge of the washer. The chutes or tubes 52 are made of rectangular cross section and so thin that it is impossible for which for the washer to turn over after it has entered the tube, but the tubes are so curved that they turn the washers right side up before they deliver them to the loading mechanism.

lat washers do not present the same diiiicnlty encountered in handling concave washers but both can be handled with equal facility by the mechanism above described.

Different styles and sizes of heels require different numbers of washers. A number greater than eight is rarely required, but in such cases the selector plate is provided with additional slots 57 and one or more additional washer chutes are arovided, the shutter being correspondingly widened to control the additional chute or chutes. These changes in design will be obvious. When a smaller number than four is to be delivered by one feedin mechanism, the position of the cam 66 is changed to advance the opening of the shutter and thus to prevent the discharge of washers into one or more of the chutes.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 15, it will be observed that the shunk e l is provided with two sockets 74 and 75 to receive the head of the screw 67 in addition to the'socket in which thisserew is located in these figures. If the cam 66 is moved backwardly (with reference to the direction of rotation of the selector plate) and clamped by the screw 67 with the head located in the socket 75, the shutter then will be opened when the foremost slot 57 in each group reaches the third chute mouth 62. Consequently, the fourth chute, which in this instance is the lowermost chute in 15, willnot receive a washer. Three washers only will be d es livered, therefore, at each opening of the shutter. If the cam 66 is moved back one more notch. with its screw 67 located in the socket 74, the two rearmost chutes only will receive washers, as will readily be appreciated. This simple adjustment, therefore,

enables the operator to vary the number of washers deliver d at will Within the limits the machine is designed.

The shafts -66 of the two washer feeding mechanisms have mitre gear connections with a horizontal shaft 80, Figs. 1 and 2, which is driven through a bevel gear connection 81 with the vertical shaft 38 previously referred to.

' The lower ends of the washer tubes 52 and 53 are secured, respectively, in the fixed plates 78 and 79, 6, at the opposite sides of the upper die block. These tubes open directly into washer passages 84 formed in the opposite sides of the member '5 of the upper die block. and these passages lead to the respective holes in whichthe plungers 7 are mounted, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 12. The passages 84 preferably are made by plate 9O having slots 9191,

with filler blocks 86, Fig. 6, which are held in place by screws 8'7, and are of such dimensions that they form passages which con stitute the lower ends of the washer chutes and are of substantially the same dimensions as the passages in the tubes 52 and 58. It will be'scen that these passages are inclined downwardly at a sha p angle and that they are so narrow as to prevent the washers from turning over.

hen the washers reach the discharge ends of their chutes, they are stopped by gates or valves 88 consisting of sleeves that -.icircle the plungers 7. The upper ends of these sleeves are secured in a sleeve head or Fig. 11, at its opposite sides to receive two rods 92-92 that project into holes formed in the cross head 14:. TAGSB rods have heads or enlargements and 9%- at their upper and lower ends, respectively, and they extend through bushings 95-95 threaded in the cross head. A lost motion connection thus is provided between the cross head and the sleeves or gates 88.

The arrangement preferably is such that the sleeves are held at the lowermost limit of their range of movement while the cross hea d lifts the plungers 7, but just before the cross head reaches the upper limitof its stroke. the heads 9393 strike the bushings 95 and lift the rods 92-92, raising the sleeves or gates '88 with them farenough to release the washers V and allow them to drop into the plunger holes in the upper die block. The position of'one of the gates at this time is shown in Fig. 8. As soon as a washer is so released, it slides into the plunger passage and drops on to the upper surface of the blank B, as clearly shown in Fi 8, this movement of the washer being facilitated by the sharp inclination of the washer chute at its delivery end. When the cross head 1% starts on its downward stroke,

' the gates or valves 88 move downwardly with it until they are returned again to their original or seated positions where they close the discharge ends of the washer chutes. This closing movement of the gates or valves is effected partly by gravity and partby a spring 97, Fig. 6, which bears at its lower end on the head 98 of rod 99, the upper end of this rod being threaded into the sleeve plate .90. The upper end of the spring 9'? beers on the plate 8, and consequently, this springtends to hold the plate 90 and the sleeves 88, secured thereto in their lowermost positions.

It may herebe mentioned that the fact tl at the gates or valves 88' are opened only for a very briefv instantduring each cycle of operations of the machine, isan iinportant advantage nice t ailords the washer select-i mechanism ainp'le tlme'to pickup wash;

ers from the hoppers and deliver them to the die block in'readines's to drop into the plunger passages as soon, as the gates are lifted;

The stopping of the washers at or near the di. ha ends of their chutes and in such a l 'O. .ltlOl1 that they have only a short distance to fall before striking the heel blank is of advantage in controlling the washers and preventing them from turning over or stand.- ing up on edge. 7

It will now be appreciated that when the machine is in operation, it is simply necessary for the attendant to keep the magazine 26 supplied with blanks and the hoppers and 51 supplied with washers. As the feed or 24 rotates intermittently. the bottommost blank in the magazine 26 drops into one of the apertures 25 and it is carried forward to a point bet-ween the upper and lowerdies,

it being properly positioned by the feeder.

sages and come to rest on the upper surface of the blank. An instant later the sleeves 88 are lowered into their closed positions,

and the plungers 7 descend and force all the washers simultaneously into the body of the heel blank. VV hen the feeder 25 moves another step to present another blank to the dies simultaneously discharges the loaded blank through the aperture a2 in the ta- It should be noted that the outer surfaces of the plungers near their lower ends are grooved longitudinally as best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This arrangement is of advantage in allowing the material of the heel blank to squeeze inwardly above the washer as the washer is forced into the heel and thusto retaint-he washer in its embedded position during and afterthe withdrawal of the plunger. -The tips on the-lower ends of the plunger center the Washers on them '11s during the embeddingoperation. Figs. i.

and 5 illustrate very well the appearance which a washer and the adjacent parts of the heel blank present after the embedding operation has been completed. 1

The stock or composition of which a heel blank. usually is made is very elastic, an'dit therefore presents peculiar difficulties to the embedding of the washers inthe manner above described. Since this; stock is usually very resilient, it tends to squeeze the wasfhers out as the plungers' are withdrawn. The stock also tends simply to compress under the washer and to return to its original ceadit-ion as soon as the plunger is Withdrawn.

come by the use of a grooved plunger, as

above described. We have also found that the use or" a lower the plate having apertures, such as those indicated at at, F gs. 3,

6 and 8, in line with the plungers is very important in'facilitating the embedding of the washers properly in the blank, particularly when the machine is running at reasonably highspeeds. The stock inthe blank immediately under any individual washer is depressed into the aperture l, and appar-,

ently a part of the material-o1 the heel is sheared by the entrance of the washer. In any event, it has been definitely ascertained hat this construction enables the machine to operate at a much higherspeed than otherwise would be possible. 7

The depth to which the washers must be forced bythe plungers varies with difierent compositions of stock in the heel blank. In some cascs'it is necessary to have the lower face of the plunger travel into the aperture t and actually go below the upper surface oi the die 3 in order properly to embed a washer in the blank. The stroke of the plungers, th refore, is made adjustable; that is, the minimum distance between the lower limit of movement of the end of each plunger and the surface of the lower die 3 may be varied adjusting the screw 13 in the cross head 14, the length of stroke of'the plunger remaining constant.

The simultaneous embedding of the entire set of washers in the blank results in exoandin the blanl: sli htl and this fact is l. m b .7 5

taken into consideration in arranging or spacing; the plungers. That is, the plungers 7 do not have exactly the positional relationship to each other that the mold pins bear to eachother, but do have substantially such a relationship, the plungers beingset inwardly toward each other slightly by, perhaps, onesixteentho't' an inch in an average size mans heel. That is not always necessary, particularly if the washers are grouped closely, but it is preferable in large heels in order to compensate for the expansion of the heel produced by the washer embedding operation, and it results in so the washers inv the blank that they will register properl with the mold pins. 7 7

Different sizes and styles of heels have a different number and arran ement of washers. The plungers 7 in the upper die and the holes 4 in the lower die correspond substantially in number and arrangement, to the number and arrangement of the washers in the finished heel. Consequently, it is neces sary to use different dies for different heels. The presentmachine, therefore, includes provision for readily changing the dies.

The lower die is supported in a slot formed in the bed 9, as best shown in Figs. 2

- pas messes (not shown) and by the central plunger 43.

The upper die, with the plungers i and sleeves 88, is arranged to be removed by a inoveni "it forward out of the machine. The

oppositv'edges of the plate 8 aremounted in guideways formed in themachine fraine'between upper plates 1001OO and lower plates 10l10l, as clearly-shown in Figs l and 6, and it is held in its operative position in the machine by a latch pin 1012, Figs. 6 and 12. This'plate and the die block 5 are rigidly securedtogether in spaced relationship by four posts 103, Figs. 1 and 12. When the pin 102 is removed, theentire upper die with the plungers and sleeves and the plunger head 10 and sleeve .plate'90 can he slipped forward'out of the machine. lt will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 6 and 11 that the slots 919l, Fig; 11, allow the plate 90to slide forward out of engagement with the rods 92-92, while the open ended. slot 104, Fig. 11, in the plunger head 10 allows this part to slip laterally oil the head .12 of the screw 18. Another upper die of thesame eeneral constructionas that sh'owinbut having a difierent arrangement of plungers, iav then be slipped into the machine in the re rse direction, a suitable lower die also being placed in the bed 9 to cooperate with the newupper die.

t will be understood that the washer sages as in the blocks'5 of all the upper lies are arranged to r gister with the washer tubes or chutes 52 and 53 when the die is in its operative position; These washer tubes, therefore, remain lined in the machine and not disturbed by the sul stitution of one for another.

re die The machine above described is designed blank, the main body of each washer resting on the surface of the blank. Other expedients also maybe adopted for holding the washers in their proper positions on the heel blank.

The holes l in'the' lower die plate appear to be of advantage not only for the reasons above described, butalso in that the movement ofthe part of the stock of the heel blank into these holes or apertures appears to have the effect of pulling thev stock in the 7 upper parts of the blank inwardly around the plungers where the stock tends to close the holes made by the plungers, and conseq y wt-s t held, t asher nam ly n their'embedded positions after the plungers' stock being. depressed more readily than when it is forced horizontally, as would be the case with a fiat imperforate die plate. The presence of this lower aperture also is of advantage in facilitating the shearing act1on which has been mentioned that apparently takes place when the washer is forced into the stock.

It will be appreciated that while we have herein shown and described the best embodiment of our invention which we have so far devised, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many forms without departing from'the spirit orscope thereof. So far'as we are aware no machine has been devised heretofore for loading a rubber heel blank with washers, and'we desire, therefore, to

claim our invention broadly.

The washer sorting mechanism is not claimed in this application but is claimed in our divisional application Serial No. 64,542, filed October 24., 1925.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is p l. A. machine for loading. rubber heel blanks with washers'comprising, in combination, positioning means for a rubber heel blank, a plunger, mechanism for reciprocating said plunger toward and from a heel positioned by said means, and means for automatically presenting Washers one at a time between said blank and plunger and in position to be forced into said blank by said plunger.

'2. A machine for loading. rubber heel blanks with washers comprising, in combination, a plunger for forcing a washer into a blank, a supportfor said blank, said support having an aperture therein to receive a part of the material of said blank displaced by said plunger as the plunger forces the washer into the heel, and'means for giving said plunger its operative. movement.

' 3. A machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers comprising, in combination, a plunger for forcing a washer into a blank, a support for said blank, said sup: port having an aperturetherein to receive a part of the material of said blank displaced by said plunger as the plunger forces the washer into the: heel, means for automatically presenting washers one at a time in position to be forced into said blank by said plunger, and means for giving said plunger its operative movement.

4:. A machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers comprising, in combination, aplunger for forcing a washer into a blank, a support for said blank, means for automatically depositing, 'awasher on. the

comprising, in combination, means for en beddinga plurality of washers simultane ously in a rubber heel blank, a magazine for holding a supply of heel blanks, and blank feeding mechanism operative to take blanks one at a time from said magazine and present them to said means.

6. A machine of the character lescribed comprising, in combination. mechanism for lcadinga rubber heel-blank with washers,

means for feeding blanks to said mechanism comprising a plate with a blank aperture therein, and means for moving said plate to present a blank positioned in said aperture to said loading mechanism.

7. A machinev of the character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with washers, and a rotary feeder for presenting blanks to said mechanism.

8. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for 3 loading a rubber heel blank with washers, and a rotary feeder operative to present blanks to said loading mechanism and to discharge the loadedblanks. from the ma chine.

9. A machine ofthe character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with washers, blankfeeding means comprising a rotary plate having a plurality of blank receiving apertures therein. and a Geneva mechanism for rotating said plate step by step to deliver blanks to'said loading mechanism.

10. A machineof the character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with washers,a

rotary plate havingv a plurality of blank receiving apertures therein, a magazinev for holdinga stack of blanks in position to have the lowermost. blank drop into an aperture in said plate as said apertures are brought successively into register with the stack, a table over the surface of which the blanks are movedfby said plate, and mechanism'for r0 tating said plat-estep by step, to cause it to deliver blanks from said magazine to said loading mechanism. i r

11. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading'a. rubber heel blank with washers. a blankfeeding mechanism operative to deliver blanks one at a time to, said loading mechanism, said feeding mechanism'comprising a rotary plate having a plurality of apertures therein, each aperture being adapte:

ed to receive a plurality of sizes of blanks,

and means for acting onv each. blank to hold i in a predetermined portion of the aper' turewhen the blank is presented to said loading mechanism.

' 12. A machine of the Character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with washers, said mechanism including a die block, blank feeding mechanism operative to deliver rubber heel blanks one at a time to said die block, and a spring pressed plunger for pressing each blank so presented against the face of the die block.

13. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with washers, saidmechanism comprising upper and lower dies, a blank feeding mechanismoperative to ieedblanks one at a time into a position between said dies, and a spring pressed plunger in the lower die operative to press each blank so fed against the lower face of the'upper die. V

A machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers comprising, in combination, plunger for forcing a washer into blank, and 'a support for said blank, the outer surface otsaid plunger having longitudinal grooves therein.

15. A. machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers comprising, in combination, a plunger for iorcinga washer fiatwise into a blank, and a support for said blank, said plunger being constructed to permitthe material of the heel blank to squeeze inwardly aroundthe edge or the washer after it has-been embedded in the blank to hold the Washer in the blank during and after thewithorawal oi the plunger.

16. In a machine for loading rubber heel blanks with Washers, 'the combination of a plunger for embedding a washer in a rubber heel blank, a support for said blank, a

die block in which said plunger is mounted to reciprocate, and a washer chute leading laterally into thehole in said block in which the plunger reciprocates.

17. In machine for loading'rubber heel blanks with washers, the'combination of a plunger for embedding a washerin a rubber heel blank, a support for said blank,.a die block in whichsaid plunger is mounted to reciprocate, a washer chute leading laterally into the plunger passage, and a gate at the discharge end of said chute controlling the movement of the washers into the plunger passage. I

18. In a machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers, the combination'o'f a plunger forembedding a washer in a rubber heel blank, a support for said blank, a die block in which said plunger is mounted to reciprocate, a chute leading laterally intothe plunger passage in said block, a sleeve encircling said plunger and operative to con.- trol the discharge of washers said chute into said passage, and actuating means simultaneously into the. blanks, and washer chutes leading into said holes.

20. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number andarrangement to the number and arrangement of the washers to be. embedded in each blank,

plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into a blank, washer feeding mechanism operative automatically to deliver a washer to each plunger, and means for supporting a rubber neel Jlank in position for the operation thereon of said plungers. I

21. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangenent to the number and arrangement of the washers to be embedded in each blank,

plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the blanks, a washer chute leading laterally into each of said holes, a gate located substantially at the discharge end of each chute and con trolling the delivery of washers into said holes,inechanisin for operating said gates.

in unison, and operating means for said plungers.

22. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a I the block having a number of. holes therein corresponding in' numberand arrangement to the number and arrangement or" the washers to be embedded in-each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the wash erssimult-aneously into the blanks,-a Washer chute leading laterally into each of said holes, a sleeve encircling each plunger and Y normally operative to prevent the discharge of washers from said chutes into'said holes, and operating mechanism for said plungers and sleeves 23. In a machine forembedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block havinga number or holes therein corresponding in number and arrangen'ient to the number and arrangement of the washers to be embedded in each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the blanks, mechanism fordelivering washers into said holes, operatingmechanism for said plungers,and

means for supportingsaid die block for-re move l from and ope ating and Wa her teed j bit) em to be embedded in eachblank, plunge 5 to reciprocate,

- die block having a nun'rber of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of the washers to be, embedded in each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the, blanks, washer passages in said block leading into said holes, means reinovably supporting the die block in themachine, and a washer teeding mechanism including washer chutes leading to said passages and registering with said passages when said block is in its operative position.

25. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of-a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of the washmovable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the blanks, means for supporting said die block removably in the machine, washer passages in said block leading from said holes to opposite sides of the block, and two washer feeding mochanisms including washer chutes leading to opposite sides of said block and arranged to register respectively with the washer passages in said die block when the block is in its operative position.

26. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, a die block having a plurality of plunger passages therein, slots leading laterally into said passages from the. outer surface of said block, and filler blocks partially closing said slots and cooperating with the walls of said slots to fo "in washer chutes in said die block.

27. In a machine for loading rubber heel blanks with washers, the combination 01' a plunger for embedding a washer in a rubber heel blank, a support for said blank, a die block in which said plunger is mounted a washer chute leading clownwardly at a sharp angle into the plunger passage, and a gate at the discharge end of said chute controlling the movement of the washers into said passage.

28. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of thewashers to be embedded in each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the blanks, washer chutes in said die block leading laterally into said holes, washer feeding mechanism including washer conducting tubes supported in the frame of the machine and leading to said washer chutes, and means for removably supporting said die block in the machine framevand permitting the removal of the die block without disturbing i the washerfeeding, mechanism or said tubes.

29. In a machine for embeddingwas'hers in rubber heelbla-nks, the combination of a die block having a plurality of holes therein,

plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers into the blanks, washer chutes leading into said holes, gates located substantially at the discharge ends of said chutes for controlling the movement of the washers into said holes, mechanism for reciprocating said plungers in said holes, and a lost motion connection between said mechanism and said gates for actuating the gates in timed relationship to the movement of the plungers. v

30. Ina machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a plurality of holes therein, plungersmovable in said holes for forcing the washers into the blanksfwasher chutes leading into said holes, a sleeve encircling each of said plungers, a plate secured to the upper ends of said sleeves, a'plungcr head to which said plungers are secured, a cross head, said plunger head being connected with said cross head to move therewith,

[means for reciprocating said cross head, and

a lost motion'connection between said plate and said cross head.

31. In a machine for embedding Washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of'the washers to be embedded in each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into-the blanks, operating mechanism for said plungers, and a disengageable connection between said plungers and said operating mechanism.

32. In a machine for embedding washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of a die block having a number of holes therein corresponding in number and arrangement to the number and arrangement of the washers to be embedded in each blank, plungers movable in said holes for forcing the washers simultaneously into the blanks, a plunger head to which said plungers are secured, operating mechanism for said plungers, a slip connection between said head and said mechanism permitting the plungers to be removed laterally from the machine, and means for supporting said die block for removal with said lun 'ers.

between said blocks,

a series of plungers movable in the upper block to press washers flatwise into said blank, said lower die block hav ng apertures therein to receive stock displaced by said plungers as they embed the Washers in the blank, operating mechanism for said plungers, and means whereby the minimum distance between the ends of said plungers and the face of the lower die plate may be ad justedJ 34. In a machine for embedding Washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of positioning means for a heel blank, means for feedinga Washer on to the surface of a heel positioned by said means, .and a plunger for forcing'the Washer flatwise into the blank. v

35. In a machine for embedding Washers in rubber heel blanks, the combination of positioning means for a heel blank, mechanism operative automatically to feed a plurality of washers on to the surface of a blank so positioned With the Washers arranged in. substantially the relationship to the outline of the blank which it is desired to have'them bear to the outline of the finished heel, aseries of plungers arranged to bear on said Washers, and means for operating said plungers to cause them to press said Washers simultaneously into the body of the blank.

36. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with Washers preparatory to molding and vulcanizing the blank, and blank feeding mechanism for presenting blanks to said loading mechanism. a 37.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for loading a rubber heel blank with Washers mechanism for presenting blanks successive- 1y to said means.

39. In a machine for loading heel blanks with Washers preparatory to molding and vulcanizing the blanks, the combination of mechanism for loading a blank with Washers arranged in substantially the positional relationship Which it is desired tov have them bear to each other in the finished heel, and blank feeding mechanism operative to present blanks successively to said loading mechanism in position -for said loading op eration.

.In testimony whereof We have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

VIGTOR R. LAlVSOll. J OHN J. BATTER-MAN. 

